Egyptian Dallah Coffee Pot, 1940s

Details

Description

Subject:

a dallah (arabic: دلة) is a traditional arabic coffee pot used to prepare and serve coffee in the arabian … Read more Subject:

a dallah (arabic: دلة) is a traditional arabic coffee pot used to prepare and serve coffee in the arabian peninsula and the persian gulf. Due to its close association with the coffee ritual, the dallah is a powerful symbol of identity for arab and gulf populations, who see it as an allegory for their tradition of hospitality.

visual details

1. general shape:

the coffee pot has a distinctive shape with a bulbous body that narrows at the waist and flares upward.
it is covered with an arrow-shaped lid topped with a large finial and held in place by a sinuous handle.
the most distinctive feature is its long crescent-shaped spout, decorated with patterns.

2. motifs:

spout: the spout is decorated with engraved motifs, probably representing traditional designs.

body: the body of the coffee pot is richly decorated with scenes and motifs evoking ancient egypt:

a pyramid, a sphinx, and a radiant sun. These elements are emblematic of egyptian culture and iconography.
floral and serpentine motifs add an extra decorative dimension.

a man dressed in traditional clothing leads a camel carrying a load.

the motifs are surrounded by geometric borders and diamond patterns.

lid: the lid is simple, with a handle topped by a crescent moon motif, often symbolizing islamic culture.

origins: the origins of the dallah are not known with certainty. It probably appeared during the 16th century, when coffee spread throughout the ottoman empire, although its specific shape may not have appeared until the mid-17th century. In any case, the dallah came after the turkish cezve and even later than the ethiopian jebena.

function: the dallah is inseparable from arabic coffee. It is part of the tradition of hospitality of the arab and gulf populations, although it is also associated with festive events such as weddings. It is the first drink served to guests, who are welcomed with the offer "come in for a coffee," regardless of the other food and drinks on offer. Any failure to follow the ritual associated with serving coffee, or any reluctance to offer it, may be perceived as a lack of respect for the guest. Dallah, closely associated with this moment, is therefore emblematic of the identity of the arab and gulf peoples: it is proudly displayed in homes as a symbol of their hospitality. Arabic coffee—and with it the dallah—has been recognized as part of the intangible cultural heritage of saudi arabia, the united arab emirates, oman, and qatar since 2015.

traditional coffee pots are named according to their size. The wealthiest sheikhs and merchants used three pots, preparing coffee in a five-gallon dallah called a khumra, transferring it to a medium-sized dallah al-logmah, and then serving it in a smaller dallah al-mzal. The spice residues remained in the large pots, and only homogeneous coffee was served.

aesthetics and manufacture: the dallah can be made of brass, steel, silver, and even 24-karat gold for the most special occasions or those used by the royal families of the peninsula. There are four traditional designs: a swirl, a diamond, a flower inside a square, and a design based on a cardamom pod.

handcrafted production is disappearing in the gulf countries in favor of imports from pakistan or morocco.
iconography: a dallah adorns the coins of the united arab emirates dirham and frequently decorates a number of urban locations (cornices or roundabouts). It is also a must-have item in souvenir shops and souks, as a symbol of life on the arabian peninsula. See less